Triathlete to hit the road — a long road — to raise money for institutes

Vance Sutton could have cut a check to support his favorite charities. Instead, he's cutting a swath across America.

Sutton, 47, is finalizing his plans to bicycle from Rehoboth Beach, Del., to Encinitas, Calif., to raise awareness and funds for the Nevada Cancer Institute and Lou Ruvo Brain Institute. Sutton is scheduled to start his 3,400-mile, 34-day journey on Sept. 15. If all goes according to plan, he'll pedal through Boulder City on Oct. 12.

Sutton doesn't take his training lightly. The Clark High grad is an accomplished triathlete. In 2007, he competed in his third Ironman Triathlon in Hawaii, an event consisting of a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and 26.2-mile marathon run.

In case you're wondering, Sutton's boss is giving him the time off needed to complete the journey. He owns Property Maintenance Services, a high-rise window-cleaning business.

He's already blogging at supportyourself.wordpress. com, where you'll find donation information and links to the cancer and Ruvo institutes.

SIMPSON STATIC: The reverberation over the quality and authenticity of potentially devastating tape recordings is growing louder in the O.J. Simpson memorabilia caper in District Court. Simpson and co-defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart are charged with armed robbery and kidnapping.

Attorney Brent Bryson is assisting an ailing Robert Lucherini in the defense of Stewart.

District Judge Jackie Glass closed her courtroom during a portion of a Monday hearing that focused on the tapes. In the part of the hearing that was open, Bryson used the state's expert to argue the recordings were riddled with stops and starts and could not be authenticated.

It's hard to imagine the judge keeping out tapes that, while arguably difficult to authenticate, have become such an integral part of the investigation. The trouble with the tapes is, there are several defendants who have accepted plea agreements who are likely to be willing to authenticate the recorded conversations in question.

"There are tapes all over the place," one informed source says. "I've never seen or heard of a case where everyone shows up at a party with a tape recorder."

TOUGH TIMES: The Financial Times of London reports shopping mall giant General Growth Properties CEO John Bucksbaum lamenting the slumping retail market and acknowledging the company has delayed $500 million in development. General Growth has several sizable holdings in Southern Nevada.

"Now is not the best time to be opening new projects," Bucksbaum said.

Industry analysts are predicting even more store closures nationally in the coming months.

DETECTIVE BOARD: There's a little competition for the appointment to the little-known state Private Investigators Licensing Board. Leading candidates are Peter Maheu, son of the late Robert Maheu, and former Metro Detective David Groover.

Groover has made plenty of news as a private investigator. He helped then-gubernatorial candidate Jim Gibbons out of the Chrissy Mazzeo mess. On behalf of the Culinary union and Police Protective Association, Groover helped nail former County Commissioner Lynette Boggs living out of her district.

'RESIDENT' ROMNEY: Expect to see former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in the coming weeks. He's considered a key player in Sen. John McCain's chances of winning swing-state Nevada in November.

Romney, you'll recall, won the GOP presidential caucus in a rout while McCain couldn't beat Ron Paul.

SHIFTING ODDS: The quiet investigation of a Las Vegas-based bookmaking ring with international connections appears to be headed toward settlement. It's the case that alarmed local bettors who were shocked to see agents from the FBI and ICE march into the Palms sports book.

STOKING FEAR: Political pundits like to call this the silly season, but the mean season is more like it. Misleading "warnings" to local gun owners of the dangers of an Obama presidency are circulating in the community.

The fear mongering is bound to get worse from here.

LITTLE JACKIE: I hear globe-trotting gambler "Little Jackie" Newton has finished his memoir. He's played for high stakes across America, throughout Europe, and wherever cards are dealt.

If Newton shares the secrets of his success, his life story should be one wild ride.

ON THE BOULEVARD: Author and environmental activist Robert Kennedy Jr. is the guest speaker at the Democratic Party's Jefferson-Jackson Dinner on Sept. 13 at Paris Las Vegas. ... New mom Erika Pope, one of the unsung pros at the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, is stepping down to focus on her family.

Have an item for the Bard of the Boulevard? E-mail comments and contributions to Smith@reviewjournal.com or call (702) 383-0295.